Reserve Unit

Chief Deputy Ross Wolf

One of the most valuable, yet unheralded, tools in the agency's operational inventory is its Reserve Unit. Reserve deputies are fully sworn law enforcement officers, with either Florida Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) or Florida Auxiliary Law Enforcement certifications, who volunteer their time and expertise to the Sheriff's Office.

Reserve deputies can work independently or with a partner, depending on their certification, designation, experience, and training. Many of the deputies who serve within the Reserve Unit are retired law enforcement officers who bring years of real-world experience to the unit, and want to continue “making a difference” in Orange County.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has a very active and productive Reserve Deputy program, at times, running an entire patrol squad, providing deputies much needed assistance. A Reserve Deputy has the same “police power” as a full-time Orange County Deputy Sheriff, except they volunteer their services. Their uniforms are identical to an Orange County Deputy Sheriff and all necessary uniforms and equipment are provided. The Sheriff's Office also provides workers compensation insurance for Reserve Deputies acting in an official capacity.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit is one of the most professional, well-trained volunteer policing units in the country. We are proud to call central Florida home, and to provide law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of Orange County. If you would like information on becoming a reserve, please visit the employment section of our website.” – Ross Wolf, Reserve Chief Deputy

Qualifications and Responsibilities

All Reserve Deputy candidates are required to go through the same stringent background checks and training as a full-time deputy sheriff. The extensive background process and drug screening assures that the agency's volunteer deputies are of good moral character and reputation. Prospective reserve candidates also undergo medical, psychological, and polygraph examinations.

Reserve deputies in training must complete their mandatory field training program within two years from the date they are sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff. This extensive training and evaluation program is the same one that the agency requires its full-time deputies complete. It is carefully designed to ensure that all of the agency's sworn personnel have a thorough understanding of local ordinances, agency policy, and law enforcement procedures.

In addition to academy training and required field training, Reserve Deputies must attend the same annual agency retraining and state certification retraining that is required of all deputies with the sheriff’s office. They must also attend monthly Reserve Unit training meetings, and are required to undergo regular firearms proficiency training.

Department policy mandates that Reserve Deputies perform a minimum of 16 hours of duty assignments each month, 12 of which must be in patrol. However most of the agency's Reserve Deputies volunteer much more than this minimum requirement. Reserve deputies are also subject to call outs for special assignments and emergencies.

During 2017 the Reserve Unit volunteered 25,938 man hours. This included 9,000 hours working in road patrol functions and 1,500 hours handling special details. In addition, the unit made 80 Felony Arrests, 151 Misdemeanor Arrests, issued 2,297 Traffic Citations and answered 7,488 calls for service. By utilizing an hourly rate of $30.00 an hour, the units’ volunteer hours resulted in a savings of $778,140 to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.